Medical Malpractice: A Delay In Diagnosis Or A Failure To Diagnose

If your doctor fails to see the connection between your symptoms and your disease and does not diagnose you correctly or quickly, it can lead to severe medical consequences for you and your family. Nelson & Hammons, Attorneys At Law, was founded in 1977. With our offices in Shreveport and Lafayette, our attorneys have been recovering damages for victims of medical malpractice and health care negligence throughout Louisiana. If you believe there was a delay in diagnosis or a failure to diagnose a medical condition, then you may be eligible for compensation for your injuries.

When Does A Misdiagnosis Constitute Medical Malpractice?

Not all missed or delayed diagnoses are considered medical malpractice. Even if a doctor reads the test results wrong and misses the diagnosis of an illness, if no harm occurs due to the delay, then there is no basis for a case against the doctor. A valid medical malpractice claim includes the following circumstances:

• Your physician misdiagnosed or failed to diagnose a condition in a timely manner that most physicians with the same qualifications would have diagnosed correctly.
• The delayed diagnosis of your condition caused you or a loved one harm, such as a delay in diagnosing cancer or another disease, and that disease progressed to a more serious stage due to the delayed diagnosis.
• The harm or injury was directly caused by the missed diagnosis or mistake in diagnosis by the doctor.

In other words, if a correct diagnosis had been made and treatment had begun more quickly, then you would not have suffered additional injury or harm.

Medical Malpractice In Louisiana

In Louisiana, the laws protecting medical professionals are strict, so there must be a clear case of medical malpractice through a missed or delayed diagnosis that causes harm to the patient. In addition, the laws in our state are designed to protect the medical community. There are strict time limits and filing deadlines for medical malpractice claims.

Call Today For A Free Consultation

If you believe that you or a loved one has been harmed due to a failed or delayed medical diagnosis, please contact our team at 318-716-7329 or send an email through our online form. Our lawyers want to hear your story, answer any questions that you may have and tell you more about how they can help you with your case.